Easy Ways for Families to Save Money
Saving money is tough for the average person, but for families, this can be extremely rough. You sacrifice so much for your children to keep them happy and healthy, and this can cause your wallet to suffer. Of course, you want to buy your children the best birthday presents and take them on the best trips, but to do that, you need to make smart financial decisions along the way. Here are some tips for families to save money that are way easier than clipping hundreds of coupons each week.
Meal Planning
If dinnertime comes around and you’re stumped as to what to make, you may be more likely to head out to a restaurant to feed the family. Especially after a long day at work, the chore of cooking may feel tedious. That’s why meal planning is so important. Not only is cooking at home better for you, but it can save you loads and loads of money (especially if you incorporate our second tip, below). Decide at the beginning of the week what’s for dinner each day and get it prepared at the beginning of the week. This doesn’t mean cook all the meals in advance – you can easily throw some raw ingredients together in a bag and freeze them for a quick slow cooker meal midweek. You’ll be more tempted to stay home to save money when it’s as easy as popping a bag in a CrockPot.
Buy in Bulk
One of the best ways to save money, whether your family is big or small, is to buy in bulk. Getting a membership to a place like Sam’s Club or Bj’s Wholesale can save you tons of money, especially with products such as toilet paper or garbage bags, which do not expire and can be bought in large quantities. Find a place out of the way in your home to store your non-perishables, and you can even invest in a chest freezer to keep meats and veggies so you can toss less.
Stay-at-home Fun
It might seem tempting to catch that new flick with the family instead of waiting for it to come on Netflix or Redbox, or to head to the bowling alley downtown for a family night out. Between activities, gas, and food, these little excursions could end up costing you and your family a pretty penny. Instead of a Friday night out with the kids, opt for more nights in with the family and invest in some board games and activities at home. Even a video game console might seem expensive at first, but it’ll slowly become cheaper than going out for a night on the town. Staying at home for a fun night can be anywhere from inexpensive to free. Activities such as building a blanket fort cost literally nothing, and encourage creativity and imagination more than heading to a trampoline park for the night.
Cut down your bills
You may be paying for certain services that you just don’t use enough to justify – such as Hulu, Spotify, or Xbox Live. While these may seem like small bills each month, they all add up. Of course, these services provide entertainment at home that can help you save money on expensive movies and arcades, but if you’re not using them, the money is going to waste. Keep what you use and ditch the rest. You also want to make sure you’re not going house broke when paying your mortgage. Use a mortgage estimator when buying your next home so you know exactly what you can afford on your income instead of struggling through the years to make ends meet.
Conclusion
In addition to buying in bulk, you may also want to take advantage of special promotions, coupons, and great deals to save more money. For example, trying out Kohl’s Amazon Returns is a good way to enjoy discounts and get stuff for free. All you need is to keep an eye on these amazing deals.
